A gigantic gothic tower appears. 

No sooner does its shadow fall than a legend spreads: anybody bold enough to reach the top of the tower will be granted a wish. 

Could you be that hero?

If this setup sounds like a blast from the past, that’s because it totally is. Ascent Spire, from Terrier Games, is a pixel-perfect slice of monochrome 8-bit retro fun, powered by gameplay that’s at once comfortingly nostalgic and utterly modern. 

The screenshots will give you an idea, but you have to download the game (for free) to appreciate its sheer retro glory.

Not only are the monochrome pixel-art visuals spot-on, showcasing the sort of artistry that the technical limitations of 8-bit coding brought out in a generation of game designers, but the chiptune music is incredibly evocative too. 

It’s like holding a 1980s handheld console that never actually existed. 

Gameplay-wise, Ascent Spire sees you battling from room to room and cutting down the various enemies that you meet. Along the way you’ll obtain perks, encounter random events, open treasure chests, buy gear from merchants, and so on. 

While each run ends with a death that sends you tumbling back to the bottom of the tower (unless you win), you’ll earn SP to spend on permanent changes to your character.

If you’re looking for a reference point, there’s a big clue in the name: Ascent Spire shares a fair amount of DNA with the excellent Slay the Spire. 

But it differs from Mega Crit’s modern classic in a few important ways. Presentation is one, obviously, but the way that battles play out is a much bigger distinguishing factor. 

Rather than taking turns to deal cards, you’re controlling the action directly. A tap on the screen unleashes an attack, a downwards flick blocks, an upward flick jumps, a leftward flick triggers a Power Attack, and a rightward flick dodges. 

Among other things, the perks that you collect make these various moves more powerful—but your own skill and timing will always matter.

We haven’t put enough time into Ascent Spire to know whether it holds up in the long term, but it makes a great first impression.

You can download it for free right now on the Google Play Store.